There will be spoilers in here. Get out if you haven't done the MSQ through 5.3 yet. You have been warned.
Given the nature of the 5.3 and AST both having to do with stars (and if you don't see the correlation beyond constellation rocks, don't worry), I felt there might be a bit of overlap, so I did some lore diving. So grab your spelunking helmets and jump down this rabbit hole I've found because it's all coming together.
The Northern Cross / Cygnus
I'm assuming you've maybe heard of the the constellation known commonly as the Northern Cross / Cygnus the Swan. Two of the three AST Relics named after stars in our night sky are there (Deneb, aka the i210 AST Relic, and Albeireo, the finished Eureka Relic). See "Carina / Canopus / Jason and the Argonauts" to learn where that third one (Canopus) ran off to, as it isn't exactly on the same note as this.
Now, with each constellation in the night sky, there is always a myth associated with it. At the minimum a Greek myth, and sometimes others as well. Here's the Greek myth to get us started.
Cygnus constellation is associated with several myths, most frequently the one of the Spartan Queen Leda, who gave birth to two sets of twins, the immortal Pollux and Helen and mortal Castor and Clytemnestra, after being seduced by the god Zeus, who had transformed himself into a swan. The immortal children were fathered by the god and the mortal ones by Leda’s husband, King Tyndareus. Castor and Pollux are represented by the zodiac constellation Gemini. [Source]
Its a myth associated with the Gemini twins, which is the Zodiac Symbol associated with Emet Selch in FF12, and also more than likely his constellation symbol in 14, as seen via the quest "Etched into the Stars". There's been a few posts on Discord / Twitter / probably reddit floating around about how Emet Selch is represented by Gemini and also likely the basis for Nald Thal (god of the underworld and commerce, surprise surprise) floating around, with Hythlodaeus (Hades' best friend who originally was offered the seat and title of Emet Selch in the Convocation, and who Emet Selch uses as a mouthpiece to give us oddly relevant and valuable information) serving as his other half, similarly to how Azeyma / Azim is based on Azem (and represented by Helios / the symbol for the Sun). Lahabrea is similarly probably the basis of Thaliak (god of water and knowledge) given his association with Academia Anyder (Anyder is the river that borders Amaurot in the book Utopia) and being a scientist / scholar in the times of Amaurot. I don't know how much of the remainder of the Convocation worked its way into becoming the Twelve, and I know it's not one to one, but close enough? Maybe Venat / Hydaelyn was originally one of the Convocation? I'm not sure.
On a slight side note: Pollux was the name of the i450 crafted weapon (Released in 5.05), and is also the name of the brightest star in the Gemini constellation.
Another side note on this constellation: Cygnus / the Northern cross also shows up in Eastern mythology as the basis for the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi / the Cowherd and Weaver Girl Story, an event probably better known as "Tanabata". Tanabata is generally a fireworks festival thing celebrated around August, which makes me believe it which serves as (What I believe is) the basis of Moonfire Faire in XIV,as they coincide. Of note in this story is two lovers who are seperated by the milky way and can only be reunited by the Northern Cross on Tanabata. I felt this was worth mentioning because I know a lot of you ship Emet or something and get really invested in the lore and stuff, and the fact that whether or not you think your character loves Emet or whatever, there's certainly a sense of "Emet missses Azem and this acts as motivation for how he acts toward the player character".
There is the whole topic of the Moonfire Faire achievement name this year being a Jaws reference, but also kind of... on the nose for what we saw in 5.3, almost as if it was a message from SE on not the Moonfire Faire, but rather 5.3 story. Take it for what you will, as this is an observation more than anything.
Disclaimer: I know you all like your ships and I'm not saying your ship is wrong or something. No I'm not saying Emet Selch is the canon ship or something. There's chemistry between your character and a lot of others to be honest, so have fun with your shipping and don't come after me kthx.
Carina / Canopus / Jason and the Argonauts
The last of the named AST Relics (Canopus) is a star in Carina, which is one of a three part constellation representing the Argo, the ship from Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts. The ship was split into pieces in the myth, hence it having three constellations in the sky. Canopus is also the second brightest star in the night sky, and the brightest star in those constellations. The name Canopus probably refers to the sundered nature of the world.
Unukalhai
Unukalhai is not only a child dressed in oddly similar white robes to Elidibus as he (Elidibus) fades away, but also the brightest star in the the Serpens constellation, which is a constellation containing Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer, which is also the Zodaic symbol of Zodiark, who was summoned by Elidibus in FF12. I know this has been mentioned elsewhere, but I thought I'd bring it up. Ophiuchus is also known as the 13th Zodiac for star charting purposes in our world, which is also the same number as the name of the shard Unukalhai was saved from (ie the thirteenth).
Other stuff that I don't know where to put that I haven't seen mentioned
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas and the plight of Elidibus source (I wrongly called it "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas", please forgive me)
Sunken Temple of Qarn is a Temple to the Sun Goddess, Azeyma.
13 convocation members + Azem, who left, 13 Zodiac Symbols + Helios, 13 shards + the Source. The thirteenth fell to darkness (the Void), the same number and element as the zodiac and element which is associated with Zodiarc as well. I don't know how well the idea of Convocation = shard + fate (the elements would be taken from the god they became in the twelve maybe?) actually holds up, but I do feel it interesting enough to be worth pointing out. I'm putting this down here at the bottom because I know I probably sound like this at this point.
Thanks for coming to my AST talk and I hope you have a great rest of your day.
submitted by /u/ominousfire
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Continue reading...
Given the nature of the 5.3 and AST both having to do with stars (and if you don't see the correlation beyond constellation rocks, don't worry), I felt there might be a bit of overlap, so I did some lore diving. So grab your spelunking helmets and jump down this rabbit hole I've found because it's all coming together.
The Northern Cross / Cygnus
I'm assuming you've maybe heard of the the constellation known commonly as the Northern Cross / Cygnus the Swan. Two of the three AST Relics named after stars in our night sky are there (Deneb, aka the i210 AST Relic, and Albeireo, the finished Eureka Relic). See "Carina / Canopus / Jason and the Argonauts" to learn where that third one (Canopus) ran off to, as it isn't exactly on the same note as this.
Now, with each constellation in the night sky, there is always a myth associated with it. At the minimum a Greek myth, and sometimes others as well. Here's the Greek myth to get us started.
Cygnus constellation is associated with several myths, most frequently the one of the Spartan Queen Leda, who gave birth to two sets of twins, the immortal Pollux and Helen and mortal Castor and Clytemnestra, after being seduced by the god Zeus, who had transformed himself into a swan. The immortal children were fathered by the god and the mortal ones by Leda’s husband, King Tyndareus. Castor and Pollux are represented by the zodiac constellation Gemini. [Source]
Its a myth associated with the Gemini twins, which is the Zodiac Symbol associated with Emet Selch in FF12, and also more than likely his constellation symbol in 14, as seen via the quest "Etched into the Stars". There's been a few posts on Discord / Twitter / probably reddit floating around about how Emet Selch is represented by Gemini and also likely the basis for Nald Thal (god of the underworld and commerce, surprise surprise) floating around, with Hythlodaeus (Hades' best friend who originally was offered the seat and title of Emet Selch in the Convocation, and who Emet Selch uses as a mouthpiece to give us oddly relevant and valuable information) serving as his other half, similarly to how Azeyma / Azim is based on Azem (and represented by Helios / the symbol for the Sun). Lahabrea is similarly probably the basis of Thaliak (god of water and knowledge) given his association with Academia Anyder (Anyder is the river that borders Amaurot in the book Utopia) and being a scientist / scholar in the times of Amaurot. I don't know how much of the remainder of the Convocation worked its way into becoming the Twelve, and I know it's not one to one, but close enough? Maybe Venat / Hydaelyn was originally one of the Convocation? I'm not sure.
On a slight side note: Pollux was the name of the i450 crafted weapon (Released in 5.05), and is also the name of the brightest star in the Gemini constellation.
Another side note on this constellation: Cygnus / the Northern cross also shows up in Eastern mythology as the basis for the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi / the Cowherd and Weaver Girl Story, an event probably better known as "Tanabata". Tanabata is generally a fireworks festival thing celebrated around August, which makes me believe it which serves as (What I believe is) the basis of Moonfire Faire in XIV,as they coincide. Of note in this story is two lovers who are seperated by the milky way and can only be reunited by the Northern Cross on Tanabata. I felt this was worth mentioning because I know a lot of you ship Emet or something and get really invested in the lore and stuff, and the fact that whether or not you think your character loves Emet or whatever, there's certainly a sense of "Emet missses Azem and this acts as motivation for how he acts toward the player character".
There is the whole topic of the Moonfire Faire achievement name this year being a Jaws reference, but also kind of... on the nose for what we saw in 5.3, almost as if it was a message from SE on not the Moonfire Faire, but rather 5.3 story. Take it for what you will, as this is an observation more than anything.
Disclaimer: I know you all like your ships and I'm not saying your ship is wrong or something. No I'm not saying Emet Selch is the canon ship or something. There's chemistry between your character and a lot of others to be honest, so have fun with your shipping and don't come after me kthx.
Carina / Canopus / Jason and the Argonauts
The last of the named AST Relics (Canopus) is a star in Carina, which is one of a three part constellation representing the Argo, the ship from Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts. The ship was split into pieces in the myth, hence it having three constellations in the sky. Canopus is also the second brightest star in the night sky, and the brightest star in those constellations. The name Canopus probably refers to the sundered nature of the world.
Unukalhai
Unukalhai is not only a child dressed in oddly similar white robes to Elidibus as he (Elidibus) fades away, but also the brightest star in the the Serpens constellation, which is a constellation containing Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer, which is also the Zodaic symbol of Zodiark, who was summoned by Elidibus in FF12. I know this has been mentioned elsewhere, but I thought I'd bring it up. Ophiuchus is also known as the 13th Zodiac for star charting purposes in our world, which is also the same number as the name of the shard Unukalhai was saved from (ie the thirteenth).
Other stuff that I don't know where to put that I haven't seen mentioned
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas and the plight of Elidibus source (I wrongly called it "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas", please forgive me)
Sunken Temple of Qarn is a Temple to the Sun Goddess, Azeyma.
13 convocation members + Azem, who left, 13 Zodiac Symbols + Helios, 13 shards + the Source. The thirteenth fell to darkness (the Void), the same number and element as the zodiac and element which is associated with Zodiarc as well. I don't know how well the idea of Convocation = shard + fate (the elements would be taken from the god they became in the twelve maybe?) actually holds up, but I do feel it interesting enough to be worth pointing out. I'm putting this down here at the bottom because I know I probably sound like this at this point.
Thanks for coming to my AST talk and I hope you have a great rest of your day.
submitted by /u/ominousfire
[link] [comments]
Continue reading...